The squares and palaces of Florence have for centuries been the scene of historic and social events that have characterised the development and growth of the city, places around which trade and traditions have developed which today, as in the past, characterise daily life in Florence. The most famous and well-known square is obviously Piazza della Signoria, which civil power had its headquarters inside Palazzo Vecchio. The Palazzo houses a wealth of art, including works by Michelangelo, Agnolo Bronzino and Giorgio Vasari. There are few other places in the world that contain such a large concentration of artistic and architectural masterpieces. It is just a short walk across Piazza della Repubblica, to the Fiorentine salon of Piazza del Duomo, dominated by the imposing mass of the cathedral, by the profile of Giotto’s belltower and the harmony of the baptistery.
Behind Piazza della Signoria you can admire the harmony of the shape and proportions of Piazza Santa Croce, situated in front of the church of the same name, which was a favourite place during the Renaissance for celebrations, performances and the characteristic football tournament in costume, which is still held today. The cultural wealth of Florence also manifests itself through numerous palaces in the historic centre, like Palazzo Strozzi or Palazzo Pitti, with its imposing facade on the slopes of the hill, together with the Boboli Gardens, inside which are masterpieces by Caravaggio, Bronzino, Artemisia Gentileschi, Titian, Tintoretto and many others, as well as numerous museums.
